I let the genie out of the bottle

To risk one's life for a single opportunity, to gamble recklessly—Lu Ye could never do that, regardless of what others might do.

In Lu Ye's view, it is extremely foolish to risk one's life at the gambling table so easily.

There will be many more opportunities in the future. Even if this divine sword has to be abandoned, it doesn't mean there aren't other divine artifacts in the world.

"Hey, isn't that a bit too cowardly?" The little devil swung his toes, a disdainful look on his face. "Don't you feel ashamed?"

"A mere divine sword, and you choose to back down? So timid and cowardly, how dare you claim to want to pursue power?"

"If even Mars's sword can scare you away, wouldn't you be so terrified if you met Mars himself?"

"Young people, at the height of their youth, should possess the spirit to face anything, singing all the way and overcoming all obstacles!"

"I'm ashamed of you for backing down like this!"

wqnmd.

Upon hearing this, Lu Ye's face immediately darkened.

Should he be tasked with suppressing the Sword of Mars?

To be honest, the main reason he dared to covet the divine artifact was because the demon said she could allow Lu Ye to absorb the power within it from a distance.

It's important to understand that in this world, to prevent the unexpected arrival of disobedient gods, all divine artifacts are strictly guarded by various magical forces. After all, a disobedient god would be tantamount to a major catastrophe for human society.

If he wanted to get close to the Sword of Mars now, he probably wouldn't even need the artifact to exert its power; the people guarding it would be enough to suppress him hundreds of times over.

"I say, do you perhaps wish for me to die by the Sword of Mars?" Lu Ye asked in a somewhat unfriendly tone.

"How could that be?" The demon in the bottle shook its head repeatedly.

"What I mean is, if you encounter any force you can't overcome, you can ask me for help!"

"As long as you help me break the seal on this bottle, whether it's the guardians of the divine artifact, the Sword of Mars, or even the God of War Mars himself descending, none of it will be a problem for me."

"So don't worry, I will always be your strongest support."

The devilish loli blinked her big eyes, her tone gentle, and her glossy, cherry-pink lips looked incredibly alluring.

"No matter what happens, as long as you unscrew the cap of this sealed bottle, I can help you solve it."

"Just unscrew this bottle cap. Whatever your troubles are, I can solve them."

"Yes, yes, I know." Lu Ye nodded silently.

No wonder you were so eager to urge me to risk my life; you wanted to put me in danger so I would have to rely on your strength.

I'm afraid that when I'm in danger and actually unscrew the cap off this sealed bottle—

Lu Ye thought about the undisguised malice on the demon that came out of the bottle after he broke the seal earlier.

"So, don't be afraid, go and take down the Sword of Mars! As long as you unscrew that bottle cap, I can solve all the difficulties along the way!" The little devil waved his arms cutely and shouted.

"I reject."

"Can't you listen to me, you idiot?" The devilish loli's expression changed instantly, and she said fiercely.

"Does listening to you make it easier for you to unscrew my head like a bottle cap?" Lu Ye said with a look of disgust. "Although that would indeed eliminate all the trouble—I refuse."

P.S. 1: I recommend a book, "I, Kiyotaka Hikigaya, Have No Emotions".

PS2: Requesting votes~ or 2

Chapter Nine: Sword and Fang!

"You bastard! Lick my feet!"

"If you've got the guts, stick your foot out! I'll lick it raw!"

"Do you dare let me out?"

"I wouldn't dare, I can't afford to offend them, I'm sorry to bother you."

As he continued toward his destination, Lu Ye kept arguing with the loli demon in his mind.

"Hello, sir, are you a tourist visiting here?"

Just as the man and the demon were tearing each other apart, an elegant and magnetic male voice suddenly rang out from the side.

Lu Ye was slightly taken aback, then immediately reacted and gave a symbolic smile: "Yes, I had heard before that Rome is a city with a rich history, and seeing it today, it certainly lives up to its reputation."

"Guests from the East, it is our honor to satisfy you in Rome."

Appearing next to Lu Ye was a middle-aged Italian man.

He was tall and had a rugged face. He was dressed in a somewhat solemn black suit and looked rather intimidating.

The only thing that slightly spoiled the mood was the musical instrument case he was carrying on his back, which looked quite out of place with his image.

As he spoke, he extended his hand and said in fluent Chinese, "China is also a place I admire, with a rich historical heritage. Therefore, I feel honored to receive praise from tourists from there."

"To be honest, 'Glory belongs to Greece, greatness to Rome,' a phrase even recorded in our history textbooks." One shouldn't hit a smiling face, and faced with such polite words, Lu Ye didn't mind exchanging pleasantries.

“It is our honor.” The middle-aged Italian man smiled with some pride, then his expression seemed somewhat regretful. “However, I must regretfully inform you that it seems you will not be able to continue exploring the area ahead to your heart’s content.”

"Our Temple of Mars is located there, and it is currently under renovation. To ensure the temple's safety and to prevent harm to visitors, it is temporarily closed to the public."

“I see.” Lu Ye nodded, indicating that he understood. “However, I have always been extremely curious about the Temple of Mars. After all, it played a very important role in the rise and fall of Rome. I wonder if I could have a look at it from the outside? After all, it would be a pity to come to Rome and not be able to pay homage to the Temple of Mars.”

“As long as you don’t enter the temple, it’s fine.” The middle-aged Italian hesitated for a moment, then nodded with a hint of pride on his face. “However, the temple is currently under renovation, so please be careful even on the outside. Also, please keep a safe distance from the temple to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.”

"nature."

"That guy just now was probably from some kind of magic society," the loli demon reminded her.

"Nonsense, dressed like a mafia member and carrying a musical instrument case. I don't believe he suddenly wants to learn music. It's probably filled with weapons that can't be shown." Lu Ye said calmly. "Besides being from the mystical side, what other possibility could someone like that be?"

"Tsk." The little devil clicked his tongue in displeasure. "I can sense that the Mares are located right in the center of this Mares Temple. It seems that these magicians are trying to use the power of the temple to appease this divine artifact."

"At this distance, is it possible to try absorbing the power of the divine artifact?" Lu Ye asked. "After all, there are guards in the temple, so it's best to stay as far away as possible if possible."

"Now that I'm just an ordinary person, if I'm discovered to have designs on this temple, I don't believe those magicians will still be as friendly as they were before."

"This distance is sufficient."

The loli demon spoke casually, her eyes narrowing slightly, her gaze seemingly piercing through layers of obstacles, landing directly on the ancient longsword enshrined on the stone altar.

"Hey, can you feel it?" She had a slightly expectant smile on her face. "That sword... and the power within it."

"Now, try to channel its power."

A humanistic view that firmly believes all things in the universe originate from humankind.

They insist on the doctrine of God as the origin of everything.

And...to simultaneously acknowledge the dualism of humanity and divinity in both.

Which category does this world ultimately belong to?

Hearing the little devil's instructions, Lu Ye put aside his distracting thoughts and closed his eyes slightly.

Because he shared his senses with the demon, he was able to detect the dangerous aura emanating from the divine sword within the temple.

However, for some reason, he could feel a rather familiar aura inside that dangerous artifact.

Seemingly sensing Lu Ye's pull, something inside the divine artifact trembled slightly, about to slowly flow out of the artifact.

Upon sensing this, Lu Ye couldn't help but beam with joy.

He knew that this was the accumulation of emotional memories within the divine artifact, that is, the power of faith.

The power born of humanity is trembling, rejoicing at its ability to return to humanity's side.

However, the next moment, the seemingly plain and unadorned Sword of Mars suddenly burst forth with dazzling divine power.

Suddenly, a piercing sword cry seemed to ring out from the darkness.

At the same time, a faint roar also appeared.

As if it had encountered its natural enemy, the power that had been stirring within the divine sword instantly calmed down, and there was no response no matter how Lu Ye called out to it.

"How is the result?"

Opening my eyes, the first thing I saw was the little devil's slightly sly smile.

"Didn't you already know the outcome?" Lu Ye's expression was calm, his voice devoid of any emotion. "That divine artifact possesses its own sentience, preventing the outflow of its internal power."

"Don't talk like I'm some kind of bad guy." The demon loli grinned, revealing small fangs. "Giving you power and ensuring your safety isn't a bad thing for me. It's just that I was unlucky this time; the first target I chose already possessed sentience."

"Moreover, as long as you are willing to use my power, then a mere sword is naturally no problem."

“Even if you’re unwilling to release me now, I will do everything in my power to help you become stronger. After all, this is our agreement—I will help you gain power while you are alive, and I will give you freedom when you die.”

“Sigh.” Lu Ye shook his head. “I find it a little hard to believe your credibility.”

"Don't worry, I will definitely do my best—" The devilish loli was about to say something when her expression suddenly froze.

Then, under Lu Ye's questioning gaze, she smiled.

"Somewhat unexpected, is this what they call losing on one front but gaining on another...?"

"what do you mean?"

"Ah, I've sensed another divine artifact." A strange meaning flashed in his dark golden vertical pupils. "If my senses are not mistaken, this divine artifact should not have developed any spirituality and can be absorbed by you."

"I think that after absorbing the power from this divine artifact, you should be able to possess enough power to handle the Sword of Mars, right?"

This time, the divine artifact...

The demon loli curled her lips into a meaningful smile as she glanced at the temple before her—the temple of Mars, the Roman god of war.

This divine artifact seems to be based on a tooth.

PS1: Just over 30 more recommendation votes needed, I can add an extra chapter tonight! Hurry! Hurry! So exciting~

PS2: I recommend a book: "Starting by Stealing the Void Genome in a Crossover Anime World"

He transmigrated into the body of a demon king with the power to rule the world, and also inherited the other party's cute and charming younger sister.

Guilty Crown, Supreme Command, and The Beast's Way

Next stop: Fireworks

I don't like anime heroines; I just like their bodies.

Chapter Ten: You Scoundrel (Bonus Chapter for 500 Recommendations)

In Rome, the capital of Italy, near Piazza Augusta, in a slightly secluded alley, there is a small bookstore that looks unremarkable.

Only by stepping into this bookstore can you smell the fragrance of books emanating from the air inside.

However, if guests come here, the first thing they will notice is that the cluttered books make it feel like there's nowhere to stand.

"Knock knock knock." A clear knocking sound rang out from outside the door.

No one responded from inside the bookstore, but the door opened automatically in an instant.

"Teacher Diana—" the young, silver-haired knight called softly, looking around cautiously as she searched for a place to stand in the shop.

This was one of the Roman strongholds of the Italian magical society, the Bronze Black Cross. However, it appears somewhat cluttered, perhaps because it wasn't used frequently.

No one paid any attention to the knight girl's calls; in response, only a few sheets of paper slowly drifted from the table to the floor.

However, the girl's eyes turned serious in an instant, and with a "clang," she drew her beloved sword, the Silver Master, without hesitation.

Almost simultaneously, spell marks flowed across the slowly falling paper, then quickly developed a metallic sheen. The thin metal sheet then stretched out nimbly, gradually changing shape.

The metal plate, which had expanded and bent into sharp angles, transformed into a complex, beastly shape—clearly three giant lions with metallic sheen all over their bodies.

The appearance evokes images of an unseen giant hand folding paper, transforming the steel plate into a work of art.

"The spell lion created by the transmutation technique... is it another test?"

The girl sighed inwardly, slightly bent her knees to lower her center of gravity, and then sprang up without hesitation to meet the three giant lions head-on.

With a series of swift swings of his silver-white knight's sword, he dispatched all the cursed lions in no time.